Method of constructing reinforced-concrete hulls for boats, &amp;c.



R. A. CUMMINGS.

METHOD oE coNsTEucnNG REINEoRcED CONCRETE HuLLs Foa soms, En.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, |918. l y2? 6, 624 n Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

ROBERT A. CU'MMINGS, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

' i METHOD 0F CONSTRUCTING REINFORCED-CONCRETE HULLS FOR BOATS, &0.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led May 20, 1918. Serial No.' 235,561.

To all whom 'it may concern: v

Be it known that l, ROBERT A. CUMMiNes, a residentfof Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods of Constructing Reinforced-Concret Hulls for Boats, 81e., of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to a method of casting or constructing reinforced concrete structures which are composed of or include a thin shell or sheathing of large area.

- various purposes, the

The object of the invention is to provide a method of casting such structures whereby the cost, as compared with existing methods, is much reduced, and by means of which a thin shell or sheathing can be cast or poured monolithically or not and can be made thinner than has heretofore been possible and of any desired thickness and at the same time be of uniform density throughout.

The invention is applicable to the cast-ing or pouring of various structures comprising or including relatively thin shell or sheathing portions, such as' the hulls of boats, barges and the like, bins, tanks and vats for facing or outside sheathing of Walls, and the like.

In the casting of hulls for concrete boats, barges, andthe like, bins, tanks and other structures having thm walls, it is the practice to build up| forms or molds of wood or metal in the form and position of the finished structure, with the metallic reinforcement contained in such forms or molds and then pour the concrete thereinto. Since concrete cannot be poured or rammed eectively in a very narrow form or mold, it is necessary to make the shells of such structures of considerable thickness in order to provide the necessary space for eciently pouring or ramming the concrete thereinto, and since, for uses, such for instance as hulls of boats, barges, and the like, the shells must be kept reasonably thin in order to avoid excessive weight, it frequentl happens that the density of the concrete s ell is not u niform throughout, but s ots occur in vwhich the concrete is loose an porous. Furthermore, on account of the narrow or restricted space in the forms or molds it has not been found reliable tc cast such thin concrete shells to a heightv of more than a few feet at a single pouring, and then build u a further section of form or mold, pour t is, and so on until the structure is completed.

The building of these forms or molds is expensive and on account of having to pour the structure is sections, as described, the process is quite slow, and, also, the resultant structure is not uniform throughout.

These objections are overcome by the present method, in which forms or molds are substantially entirely dispensed with and a thin shell or sheathing of more uniform density and structure throughout and of thinner section is produced. This is accomplished by casting the various parts in sections, in horizontal position, preferably with the reinforcement extending continuously between sections, leaving between the various sections joints at which the reinforcement is not embedded in concrete, and after the sections have set, moving the sections which are to constitute vertical or inclined portions of the structure, into propery position relative to each other and to the sections which are to remain in horizontal position, and in so lifting these sections to position, bending the exposed reinforcement. at the joints, and then casting or filling in the angies or joints.

ln the accompanying drawings the method is illustrated for casting the hulls of boats, barges, and the like, but it will be understood that this is merely illustrative of one application thereof, and that the method can be adapted for casting any other structure having thin shells or sheathings, such as before enumerated.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view showing the manner of casting the bottom, sides, and ends of a barge according to my invention; Fig. l2 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner of positioning the vertical port-ions relative to the bottom, preparatory to casting or illing in the angles or joints; Fig. enlarged scale showing the method of forming a joint or angle connecting the bottom with one of the vertical portions; Fig. l is a similar View illustrating a modi cation; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5, Fig. l showing the formation of a frame or rib member; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the formation of the midship portion of a ship; Fig, 7 is a similar View showing the formation of the bow portion of such ship; and Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic View showing the method adapted to form a curved structure with the use of plane or at casting platforms.

Patented Aug. 2U?, i918.

3 is a sectional view on an proper positions, as indicated by the dotted lines, after which the joints are closed in the manner above described.

Obviously, the method will be modified according to the shape, size and other conditions of the structure to be built.

The method described is much more economical than the methods now in vogue for building similar structures, as it does not involve the use and waste of a large amount of lumber j and timber for forming the molds; it` enables the shell or sheathing to be made thinner than has heretofore been possible, thus not only saving Weight but also saving material and adding to the economy of the method, but at the same time insures a structure of uniform density throughout. It is also more expeditious than prior methods.

What I claim is:

l. rihe method of constructing reinforced concrete structures of thin section and large area, consisting in casting the same in sections separately and in substantially hori- Zontal position with reinforcement extending continuously between said sections, moving some of said sections relative to others and thereby bending the reinforcement between the sections, and then casting in the joints or angles.

2. The method of constructing reinforced concrete structures comprising thin shells of considerable area, consisting in casting the horizontal and side portions of said structures in separate sections in horizontal position with continuous reinforcement between said sections, lifting the side portions and thereby bending the reinforcement at the joints, and then casting in the joints or angles.

3. The method of constructing reinforced concrete bins, tanks, hulls or boats, and the like, consisting in casting the bottom and side portions thereof as separate sections in horizontal position with continuous reinforcement between the` same, lifting the outer edges of the sections which are to form the sides of said structure and thereby rotating them around their inner edges and bending the unembedded portions of the reinforcement, and then casting in the joints or angles.

4. The method of constructing reinforced concrete structures of thin section and large area, consisting in casting the same in sections separately and in substantially horizontal positionwith reinforcement extending into the spaces between adjacent sections, lifting some -of said sections and ro- 5. The method of constructing reinforced concrete structures of thin section and large area, consisting in casting the same in sections separately and in substantially horizontal position with reinforcement eXtending into the spaces between adjacent sections, lifting some of said sections and rotating them about their edges contiguous to adjacent sectionsv and thereby bending the reinforcement between the sections, and then casting in the joints or angles and closing the same and embedding the protruding reinforcement.

6. The method of constructing reinforced concrete structures of thin section and large area, consisting in casting the same in sections separately and in substantially horizontal position and providing reinforcement extending from some of said sections into adjacent sections, moving some of said sections relative to others and rotating the same about their edges contiguous to adjacent sections and thereby bending the reinforcement between said sections and closing the joints.

7. The method offconstructing reinforced concrete structures of thin section and large area, consisting in casting the same in sections separately aiid in substantially horizontal position with reinforcement extending into the spaces between adjacent sections, the reinforcement in adjacent sections being united in said spaces, moving some of said sections relative to others and rotating them about their edges contiguous to the adjacent sections, and closing the joints or angles.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

ROBERT A. CUMMINGS.

Witness GLENN H. LEREsoHE. 

